| Armed Forces Revolutionary Council | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Established | 4 June 1979 (1979-06-04) |
| Dissolved | 24 September 1979 (1979-09-24) |
| State | Ghana |
| Leader | Chairman (Jerry Rawlings) |
| Headquarters | Accra |
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|---|
| Constitution |
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TheArmed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was the military junta that seized power inGhana from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979.
The AFRC came to power in a coup that removed theSupreme Military Council, another military regime, from power. The June 4 coup was preceded by an abortive attempt on May 15, 1979, when Flt. Lt.Jerry Rawlings and other ranks were arrested. Their trial only served to make them popular until they were eventually released on the morning of June 4 by young officers and noncommissioned officers inspired by Rawlings.
During the fighting that ensued throughout the day, a number of military personnel died. These includeMajor General Odartey-Wellington, who led the government's resistance to thecoup d'état, and Colonel Joseph Enningful, who was a former Commander of the Support Services of the Ghana Armed Forces. Other soldiers who died that day include Second-Lieutenant J. Agyemang Bio, Corporal William Tingan, Lance Corporal Sorkpor, Trooper Samuel Larsey, Trooper Emmanuel Koranteng-Apau, Lance Corporal Gilbert Kwabla Folivi-Tayko and Lance Corporal Mamudu Kalifa. They were all buried with full military honours at the Osu Military Cemetery inAccra.[1]
The regime started a 'house cleaning' exercise against corruption. Three former military leaders of Ghana,Lt. Gen. Afrifa,Gen. Acheampong andLt. Gen. Akuffo, were executed, together with five other senior officers[2] deemed to have been corrupt by the special courts set up by the government.[3] Numerous business entrepreneurs were also targeted and unlawfully had their assets confiscated by the AFRC government, includingJ. K. Siaw.
The AFRC allowed the already scheduledelections to go ahead and handed over to the duly elected Dr.Hilla Limann of thePeople's National Party, who became the only president of the Third Republic of Ghana.
The AFRC consisted of 15 members.[4]
AFRC members[edit] | |||||
| Position | Name | Dates | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head of state of Ghana and chairman | Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Official spokesman | Captain Kojo Boakye-Djan[5] | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Major Mensah-Poku | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Major Mensah Gbedemah | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Lieutenant Commander H. C. Apaloo | Jun 1979 – ?[4] | Died following traffic accident | ||
| Member | Captain Kwabena Baah Achamfuor[6] | 19 Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Warrant Officer (II) Harry K. Obeng | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Staff Sergeant Alex Adjei | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Corporal Owusu Boateng | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Leading Aircraftman John N. Gatsiko[7] | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Lance Corporal Peter Tasiri[7] | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Lance Corporal Ansah Atiemo | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Lance Corporal Sarkodee-Addo | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Corporal Sheikh Tetteh | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
| Member | Private Owusu Adu | Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979 | |||
Commissioners were in place of Ministers of state and most carried on from the previous government. A number of commissioners had to cover additional ministries during the period of the AFRC.
| Preceded by | Government of Ghana (Military Regime) Jun 1979 – Sept 1979 | Succeeded by |
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| Military | |
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